How honest to be if asked "would you come here if we accept you?"

[NerdyKnitter]

Hello all,

I have a PhD interview soon. My M.A. advisor told me to prepare for the question "Would you come here if we accept you?" The interview is at my second choice school, but by a very narrow margin. If I was accepted to both my top two schools, I would have a lot of trouble choosing. If I am asked this question would it be better to be honest ("I would need to hear from one other school to make an informed decision"), or to "commit" earlier. Keeping in mind that competing offers are becoming quite rare in this economy, I am unsure of if it is wise to be vague. Realistically, would it be a serious offense to "commit" in an interview, but end up choosing a different school (on the off chance that my top two schools give offers)? Or are faculty used to the fact that they might accept students who are entertaining other offers?

[quantitative]

I think any top program knows that students apply other places and will be competitive enough to get into other schools. My mentor told me that I might get this question as well. A school cannot make you commit until April 15, so realize this single question is not binding. Say yes if you're comfortable saying it. I think it's an unfair question to be honest. If you're not comfortable saying yes for the time being, you should say that this is one of your top choices and you'd be thrilled to go. However, you did apply another places and need to see what other offers you receive before committing. I'm sure every year students who tell them 'yes' change their minds, so don't feel guilty.

Edited January 31, 2012 by quantitative

[Origin=Goal]

That's ludicrous, on par with how my past jobs ask you "how long do you see yourself with company x?" If you don't sound sure they might not offer you the spot, assuming that you'll turn it down (this happens with folks who appear "overqualified" if you can believe it); I'd go with what quantitative said, and "Say yes if you're comfortable saying it" (or some similar variation). As they put it, you don't HAVE to decide before April 15th.

[socihealth]

I think being asked this question can put you in a tough position. Although I wish my top choice would ask me this!

[msafiri]

Maybe you should think about it from a different perspective. How would you feel if you were a potential employer and someone lied to you? Would you want to work with them in the future? Would you consider them for a job in the future? You should be honest with people in the graduate admissions process because all of these people, whether you attend their university or not, are your future colleagues.

[UnlikelyGrad]

I would say: "I don't think I can answer that question without visiting all of the schools that have accepted me."

If the interview was part of a visit, I would add: "The things I really like about this university are ____, ____, and ____." (Most of these should not have to do with the things you wrote about in your SOP.) For example, I would say about MyU: "The support staff here is friendly and competent, there is a lot of collaboration between departments, and I love the area." (These were all true: but I still strongly considered going somewhere else.) Let them know that you like the department (and why), assuming that you do.

If you really hate it, obviously, I would hope that you would just say, "No."

[Helpplease123]

I've got to be honest - I don't really agree with some of these comments. You need to look out for yourself in this process and if you don't tell the school you'd accept their place, they're less likely to accept you and is that something you want to risk? I know that this may be somewhat dishonest but it's not like you don't want to go there, you do, there just happens to be another place you want to go to more - that doesn't preclude you wanting to accept their offer. I don't think it's that fair to be asked the question but I was asked this for an MBA place I got last year and said yes - I didn't go - and the school has since sent me a personal email and asked me to reapply this year, so clearly I didn't mortally offend them. As it turns out, I won't reapply as I want to do an MPA instead but still, the point remains - unless you actively wouldn't go there if accepted (and I doubt you would've gone to the effort of applying if that was the case) then I think you should say yes if asked.

[koolherc]

I've got to be honest - I don't really agree with some of these comments. You need to look out for yourself in this process and if you don't tell the school you'd accept their place, they're less likely to accept you and is that something you want to risk? I know that this may be somewhat dishonest but it's not like you don't want to go there, you do, there just happens to be another place you want to go to more - that doesn't preclude you wanting to accept their offer. I don't think it's that fair to be asked the question but I was asked this for an MBA place I got last year and said yes - I didn't go - and the school has since sent me a personal email and asked me to reapply this year, so clearly I didn't mortally offend them. As it turns out, I won't reapply as I want to do an MPA instead but still, the point remains - unless you actively wouldn't go there if accepted (and I doubt you would've gone to the effort of applying if that was the case) then I think you should say yes if asked.

wisest answer, IMO.